Ben Arfa scores 2 late penalties as Nice beats Angers 2-1

Published Jan. 15, 2016 4:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

PARIS (AP) Winger Hatem Ben Arfa scored two late penalties as Nice beat second-place Angers 2-1 to move provisionally up to third place in the French league on Friday.

Pushing for a place in France's European Championship squad later this year, Ben Arfa ended a barren run of 10 league games without a goal with two expertly taken spot kicks.

He sent goalkeeper Alexandre Letellier the wrong both times, placing the ball to the right in the 80th minute and stroking it to the left four minutes later to take his league tally to nine this season.

With Angers controlling the first half, Nice goalie Yoan Cardinale brilliantly tipped over a header from Pierrick Capelle in the 14th.

But he was powerless to stop Capelle from opening the scoring 10 minutes later.